These homemade Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Rolls are full of juicy apples and a sweet brown sugar cinnamon swirl. They are the perfect version of cinnamon rolls for fall! Get ready to elevate your baking skills and savor a symphony of flavors that perfectly captures the essence of cozy comfort. Nobody will know these are gluten free!
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I have been on a roll (no pun intended), creating some fun flavors of cinnamon rolls lately. I love how flavor bakes into every bite. You can use any flavor of apples. I love using more tart apples because they stand out with the brown sugar and cinnamon flavors.
My gluten free apple cider cinnamon rolls are a fusion of flavors that effortlessly combine the sweet essence of ripe apples with the comforting warmth of cinnamon. These rolls turn out so light and fluffy. You won’t believe they are gluten free.
If you want to try other flavors, check out all of my gluten free cinnamon roll flavors. Mr. Fearless Dining loves these Gluten Free Nutella Cinnamon Rolls.
If you love apples as much as we do, I have a ton of incredible gluten free apple recipes to try! Go here to see all of my gluten free cinnamon roll recipes. I have a ton of fun flavors to try!
Allergen Information:
These rolls are gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. See the Substitutions section for a dairy-free alternative. Check out ALL of my recipes using Authentic Foods Steve’s Gluten Free Bread Blend.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe with Authentic Foods Steve’s GF Bread Blend. It is the best blend I have found for cinnamon rolls because they turn out incredibly fluffy, like the real deal. I have used Cup4Cup in other cinnamon roll recipes, which also works. Note you will need to add a lot more Cup4Cup flour than listed in this recipe. Note: Cup4Cup changed its flour blend formulation, and it doesn’t behave as the old formulation. I haven’t had a chance to retest this recipe with the new flour blend formulation.
- Xanthan Gum – If you use a flour blend that doesn’t have a binder, add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.
- Active Dry Yeast – I haven’t tested this recipe using rapid yeast. Note you should double-check that the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star “Platinum” is NOT gluten free!
- Brown Sugar and Ground Cinnamon
- Butter – Use unsalted butter.
- Eggs – Size large.
- Apple Cider – This helps give these rolls awesome apple flavor.
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract.
Substitutions:
- Make this recipe dairy-free by using a plant-based butter.
- Make this recipe gum-free by using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It contains no xanthan gum. It uses psyllium husk for the binder. I haven’t tested it in this specific recipe, but it works in my regular cinnamon roll recipe, which uses the same gluten free cinnamon roll base dough.
Baking Tips:
1. Always check the gluten free flour blend you use to ensure it works in yeast recipes! I can’t say this enough. Bob’s 1:1 and King Arthur 1:1 state they do not work in yeast recipes, amongst others.
2. Be sure your apple cider isn’t too hot before adding the yeast. The temperature should be no hotter than 110º F.
3. Rise the dough in a warm spot. I preheat my oven to 200º F, then turn it off. I then cover the pan with plastic wrap and put it in the warm oven. This is the perfect temperature to rise the dough, especially in colder weather.
Check out my Gluten Free Bread Troubleshooting Guide for more tips and tricks for rising the dough.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Heat the cider for 20 seconds in the microwave; be sure it is no hotter than 110º F. Stir and add the yeast and one teaspoon of sugar to the dish. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is frothy.
Step 2: Add the bubbly yeast mixture, melted butter, and eggs to a stand mixer bowl. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
Step 3: Add the flour and salt to the stand mixer. Turn on low speed and gradually increase the speed to medium until the dough is formed.
🔑 Sandi says: You can also mix this by hand in a large
Step 4: Your dough should be workable. If you use a gluten free flour blend that wasn’t Authentic Foods, note you “may” need to add a lot more flour to get the dough to be workable. This is normal. The Authentic Foods Steve’s Bread Blend is crafted, so you don’t need as much flour to hold it together.
📢 Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.
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Step 5: In a
Step 5 continued: Place the dough onto a silicone mat and roll the dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. You want the dough to be shaped like a rectangle. Some gluten free flour blends are stickier than others, so dust the mat and dough with flour if you think it needs it.
Step 6: Spread the apple sugar mixture over the dough.
Step 7: Carefully roll the dough over the apple mixture. Try to roll them tightly. Pressing the ends slightly as you roll it.
Take a piece of sewing thread or unflavored dental floss. Place it under the rolls near the end. Pull the pieces of thread up, crossing the ends of the string over, and pull. As the thread circle narrows, this will cut a roll. Continue until you have cut the whole log into rolls.
Step 8: Place the rolls into a greased 9×13 pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer.
Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Place the rolls into an oven preheated to 200º F. Be sure once the oven is heated to 200º F to turn it off. This gives the rolls a nice warm environment to rise.
Step 9: The rolls will rise to double in size over the next 45-60 minutes. Remove them from the oven and throw away the piece of plastic wrap.
Step 10: Bake the gluten free apple cinnamon rolls for 30 minutes until slightly golden. Move the pan to a cooling rack. Cool the rolls before eating them. (Be careful because the apple sugar gets very hot after baking.)
Drizzle icing or spread vanilla frosting over the rolls.
To make the icing, combine the room-temperature cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl or stand mixer. Whip until creamy. This homemade cream cheese icing has the creamiest texture and is delicious with these cinnamon buns.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If your rolls didn’t rise, check the expiration date on the yeast. If your yeast was good, it is possible you used a gluten free flour blend that doesn’t work with yeast.
You can use a knife to cut the dough, but it will slightly flatten your rolls.
Store your apple cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days. You can also freeze these rolls in a zip-style freezer baggie.
More Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll Recipes
- Gluten Free Lemon Rolls with yummy lemon custard swirled in the rolls.
- Easy Gluten Free Orange Rolls with an orange zest and sugar swirl.
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for Christmas.
- Fluffy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are a great fall breakfast treat.
- Gluten Free Cranberry Rolls – Perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Include which flour blend you used. This helps others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Fluffy Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast * see note
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar
Rolls
- 2 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Apple Swirl
- 1 ½ cup apples peeled and diced
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese soft, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter soft, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
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Instructions
Yeast Prep:
- Heat the 1 cup apple cider in a microwave for 20 seconds. Be sure it is no hotter than 110º F. Add the 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast and 1 teaspoon cane sugar to the dish. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is frothy.
Make the Rolls:
- Add the bubbly yeast mixture, ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs to a stand mixer bowl. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
- Add the 2 ½ cups gluten free flour blend and ⅛ teaspoon salt to the stand mixer. Turn on low speed and gradually increase the speed to medium until the dough is formed.
- Your dough should be workable. If you use a gluten free flour blend that wasn't Authentic Foods, note you "may" need to add a lot more flour to get the dough to be workable. This is normal. The Authentic Foods Steve's Bread Blend is crafted, so you don't need as much flour to hold it together.
- In a mixing bowl, add 1 ½ cup apples, melted ¼ cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Mix well. I peeled my apples. It is optional to peel the apples, but the texture will be better peeled.
- Place the dough onto a silicone mat and roll the dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. You want the dough to be shaped like a rectangle.
- Some gluten free flour blends are stickier than others, so be sure to dust the mat and dough with flour if you think it needs it.
- Spread the apple sugar mixture over the dough. Carefully roll the dough over the apple mixture. Try to roll them tightly. Pressing the ends slightly as you roll it.
- Take a piece of thread or unflavored dental floss. Place it under the rolls near the end. Pull the pieces of thread up, crossing the ends of the string over, and pull. As the thread circle narrows, this will cut a roll. Continue until you have cut the whole log into rolls.
- Place the rolls into a greased 9×13 pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer.
- Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Place the rolls into an oven preheated to 200º F. Be sure once the oven is heated to 200º F to turn it off. This gives the rolls a nice warm environment to rise.
- The rolls will rise over the next 45-60 minutes to double in size. Remove them from the oven and throw away the piece of plastic wrap.
- Bake the gluten free apple cinnamon rolls for 30 minutes until slightly golden. Move the pan to a cooling rack. Cool the rolls before eating them. (Be careful because the apple sugar gets very hot after baking.)
Icing:
- To make the icing, combine the room-temperature 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, and 1 cup powdered sugar in a bowl or stand mixer. Whip until creamy. This homemade cream cheese icing has the creamiest texture and is absolutely delicious with these cinnamon buns.
Notes
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe with Authentic Foods Steve’s GF Bread Blend. It is the best blend I have found for cinnamon rolls because they turn out incredibly fluffy, like the real deal. I have used Cup4Cup in other cinnamon roll recipes, which also works. Note you will need to add a lot more Cup4Cup flour than listed in this recipe. Note: Cup4Cup changed its flour blend formulation, and it doesn’t behave as the old formulation. I haven’t had a chance to retest this recipe with the new flour blend formulation.
- Always check the gluten free flour blend you use to ensure it works in yeast recipes! I can’t say this enough. Bob’s 1:1 and King Arthur 1:1 state they do not work in yeast recipes.
- Make this recipe gum-free by using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It contains no xanthan gum. It uses psyllium husk for the binder. I haven’t tested it in this specific recipe, but it works in my regular cinnamon roll recipe, which uses the same gluten free cinnamon roll base dough.
- Yeast – double check the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
- Store the rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the rolls in a freezer safe zip bag.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Bake 30 min at 350?
Hi Kitty, that is correct.
I have made fluffy cinnamon rolls (with yeast) using Measure to Measure flour. It does work. Maybe not for everything but it does for rolls.
That is interesting to hear. I am glad it is working for you.